Readers of this site know I don’t typically post pieces on one particular youth prospect going abroad. But, Cody Arnoux is a player I have been tracking for a long time and it’s refreshing to hear that he may be latching on with a big English club. Soccer by Ives broke the story earlier today that Arnoux whose excelled in both College Soccer and PDL is heading overseas.

Arnoux, along with Marcus Tracy and Sam Cronin were the most impressive players on a Wake Forest team that dominated College Soccer the past two seasons. (Despite being ousted by UNC who lost to Maryland in the 2008 College Cup) Arnoux has also been impressive in the PDL with the Carolina Dynamo scoring goals for fun earlier in the summer before he went to England on trial.

I felt all three should go directly to Europe and skip MLS. Tracy signed with Aalborg in January and Cronin fortunately ended up with TFC which was among the best of many bad MLS options.  Tracy, incidentally also played for the Carolina Dynamo of the PDL.

Arnoux is a quality player who potentially could have a national team career. He’s gained the notice of a top EPL club, Everton. (We’re not sure Everton is the club signing Arnoux, but do know he went on trial there) We’re seeing more and more player who are not capped by the US Youth National Teams or attend the elite Bradenton Academy in Florida develop well in college or PDL and then gain the notice of European clubs.

This is precisely the path that Charlie Davies followed. Davies is a player who just turned 23, but yet has emerged as one of the most important in the US National Team player pool. Arnoux based on what I’ve seen at Wake and what I’ve heard through USL/PDL buzz the last few weeks could be a similar type star in the making.